Loading and unloading device.



R. L. MORGAN.

LOADING AND UNLDADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1909.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

@WwW-- RALPH L. MORGAN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application' led April 24, 1909.

Iatented Jan. 31, 1911. Serial No. 491,941.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, RALPH L. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at llforcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Loading and UnloadingDevice, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for loading and unloadingvehicles for trucking and freighting purposes, particularly motortrucks, in order to extend their usefulness, avoid the delays which arenecessitated by the old methods of loading, and decrease the cost ofoperation.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide meansindependently of the truck whereby a loaded box, crate, or removablebody can be deposited. on the platform of the truck and removedtherefrom in a simple and expeditious manner without the' employment ofcomplicated mechanism, and of such simple and effective constructionthat the loading operation can be performed without materially jarringthe load or running any serious risk of accident; also to provide suchconstruction in combination with a platform or other stationary elementfrom and to which the load is conveyed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingrdrawings, in which` igure 1is a side view partially diagrammatic in form showing one embodiment ofthe invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another way in which theinvention can be carried out; and Fig. 3 is an end View of theconstruction shown in Fig. 2.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, a motor truck 10 is shownas backed up to a fixed platform 11 from which the truck is to be loadedor at which it is to be unloaded. It will be understood however that thetruck may be loaded and unloaded from the side as well as from the rear.The truck is shown as provided with a removable crate or body 12 intheform .of a box or receptacle,

for receiving the load for the vehicle. This preferably is loaded byhand or otherwise on the platform 11 or 1n any other convenient placeand brought up into position on this platform to be'conveyed on theplatform 13 of the truck. The crate or body portion .12 may, if desired,be provided with rollers 14 for facilitating manipulation thereof. Inthis form of the invention a pair of supports or tracks 15 is shown1ocated at the sides of the truck and at subside.

stantially the level of both platforms 11 and 1S, sothat the trucks canback in between them. They are pivoted at a point near the platform 11and are adapted to support the rollers and are intended to be moved upand down. In the form shown in Fig. 1, a hydraulic, con'lpressed air, orsteam cylinder 16 is shown connected by bell-crank 13' with a link 18which vis connected with one end of the track 15. It will be understoodthat the bell-crank is fixed to a rock shaft 19 and that the partsbetween it and the track, 15 are duplicated on the opposite Anyconvenient mechanism may be substituted for this for the purpose ofraising and lowering the ends of the tracks 15.

In the use of this device, the piston of the cylinder 16 is operated soas to raise the tracks 15 and the box or crate is then rolled out overthe platform of the truck on these tracks.- This may be done by hand orotherwise as desired. Then the piston is operated to lower the ends ofthe tracks and allow the crate to come down on the platform of the motortruck. In unloading the reverse operation takes place, and if desiredthe tracks can be raised high enough so as to allow the crate to rolldown on the platform 11, or if desired the platform 13 may be madeslightly lower than the platform 11 and the tracks inclined slightly soas to permit thc crate to roll down easily on the truck, but I prefer tohave the tracks substantially horizontal during both the loading andunloading operations.

In the form of the invention shown 1n Figs. 2 and 3 the parts 10, 11,12, l-and 14 are the same as those described above, but in place of thetracks 15 are two tracks 2 1 which reciprocate vertically, beingoperated by pistons 22 in two vertical power cylinders. The operation issimilar to that described above, and in this case the track preferablyis kept horizontal during both loading and unloading operations. In bothcases the supports or tracks are so located as not to interfere with themovements of the truck in backing in and going out.

It will be seen that this invention provides an apparatus for loadingand unloading motor trucks which is a very slmple cnstruction, does notrequire any modificatlon of the truck itself, can be applied to trucksdrawn by horses, and will save ractically all the time which hasheretofore n wasted in loading and unloading by hand so therein by anyperson skilled inthe art Withthat the trucks or other vehicles may bc fkept on the road in'actual operation practically all the time.

IVhile I have villustrated and described two embodiments of theinvention I am aware that many modifications may be made out'departingfrom the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore Ido not Wish to be limited to all the details of construction shovvn anddescribed, but

That I do claim is:-

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of astationary platform, a truck adapted to be moved up to the platform, apair of tracks located atv the'sides of the truck and having their endsextending substantiall)v to the platform, said tracks being adapted toreceive the rollers of a removable crate or body for the truck, andpower operated means independent of the truck for raising and loweringsaid tracks.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

i the combination of a fixed platform, a truck having a platform ofsubstantially the same height as the fixed platform, a support locatedat substantially the level of said platforms and pivoted to the fixedplatform, and means for swinging the support on its pivots.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a motortruck, and power operated means independent of the truck and below itfor moving a body or crate to and from the truck While the latter is instationary position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

